I'm Back!

As you can see based on the dates, I've been gone for a while.  Well, I'm back... I hope.  My goal is to turn this blog into a journal of my genealogy journey.  Sure, this journey has been going on since late 1990 after the birth of my second (and last) child, but l need something to look back on.  Not only that, but I need a place to share my genealogy stories that have already happened in addition to those that have not occurred yet.  If you're visiting and reading this now, I hope that my experiences don't bore you to death and are actually enjoyable to read.  Please feel free to leave a comment whether or not they are enjoyable.  I can handle it!

Hollingsworth Cemetery, May '07

It's been quite a while since I last updated my blog, so I thought I had better make an entry. Today, a crew of four volunteers worked at the Hollingsworth Cemetery mainly digging up the fence for restoration and cutting out tree roots and stumps along the way. It is a massive chore for such a small cemetery.

After several hours, a few of us discussed alternative options. Rather than dig up this old fence to restore it, wouldn't it be better to cut it out below grade and install a more modern fence? Some of the original fence, such as the gate and a couple corner posts, could be used in the design. There are two corner posts missing. The gate has a post on each side of it. There is one other corner post still in place. If any portion of the original fence is used, some of the pieces will require straightening. Blacksmiths are already difficult to come by, let alone one who would be able to work on the old style iron fence.

What should we do? What would you do?

For pictures, please browse earlier postings of Hollingsworth Cemetery.

Oct '06 Work Day at Hollingsworth Cemetery

Three members (Dirk Stapleton, Gary Martin, and myself) and one associate (Bill Flynn) of Westport Camp #64, Department of Missouri, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War worked the better part of the day on 28 Oct 2006 removing weeds and saplings that have sprung up since the first day spent clearing brush and trees (see "Day of Clearing").

The current goal is to remove the old iron fence for two reasons. The first reason is to make it easier to get to the tree stumps in order to remove them with whatever means possible. With the stumps removed, it will be much easier to level the earth in and around the cemetery. The second reason for removing the fence is so we can see if a blacksmith would be willing and able to restore it. There are several missing pieces including two of the five cornerposts. and some of the rails, hairpins, and pickets.

With the ground leveled, it will be much simpler to set the markers where they belong at the head of the graves. Supposedly there were, at one time, other headstones within this cemetery. As mentioned before, there was a footstone found, believed to be a marker for Susan Hollingsworth, but without the last initial, it is difficult to tell.

First 5k Run

I participated in my first 5k run in the 2006 Kansas City Marathon yesterday morning (7 Oct 2006). My only complaint was that it was very early and a little on the frigid side, but other than that I had a good time running with a co-worker. We finished with a 9:27 per mile pace for a final time of 29:21. My goal was to finish with less than a 10:00 per mile pace. I made it!

I was one of 275 males and 778 participants in the 5k. The average finish time was 39:48. I finished 260 out of the entire group of 778 runners; 148 out of the 275 males; and 14 out of 22 in my age bracket.

Immediately after the race, I drove to the Truman Sports Complex and walked 2.5 miles for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), a worthwhile cause.

Day of Clearing

On Saturday, 6 May 06 the weather couldn't have been any better. It started out cool, but not cold, and cloudy and warmed up just a little. Later the sun came out and brightened the day to shed light on the work we had just completed. All of the brush and trees had been cleared. There are still stumps to contend with, one of which will be a challenge removing it from the fence. The before and after pictures should give you an idea how much work was done in a few hours time. We started about 9 a.m. and ended around noon.

Besides myself (Teacher, SkillsUSA Advisor, SUVCW Westport Camp #64), today's crew consisted of Martin Conrad (Teacher, SkillsUSA Advisor, Optimists Club), Becky Conrad, Nathaniel Conrad, Randy Long, Derek Long (SkillsUSA Member), John Ridings, Jessica Ridings (SkillsUSA Member), Ben Remington (SkillsUSA Member), James Bridges (SkillsUSA Member), Larry Stevenson (SkillsUSA Advisor), and Dan Carder (Elliott's Scouts Civil War Reenactors). Everyone worked hard sawing, cutting, chopping, digging, pushing, pulling, lifting, carrying, and learning all with the utmost respect for those who were interred here so many years ago. By the way, after counting tree rings, we had determined that some of the trees were as much as 70 years old (approximately).

The gate was carefully extracted from the ground. On it is the manufacturing company's name, Champion Iron Fence Co. Kenton, Ohio. The fence is a hairpin and picket fence with open or scroll cornerposts. Additional information about iron cemetery fences and Champion Iron Fence Co. can be found at http://www.chicora.org/cemetery_fences.htm.

Another interesting discovery was that of an apparent footstone. Although broken, one of the pieces shows the first and middle initials as S. A. Another piece is still missing. It was buried near a tree between the two obvious grave locations. The only family members whose first name began with an S is their father, Samuel Gordon Hollingsworth (1814-1892), their mother, Susan Harris (Mimms) Hollingsworth (died about 1854), and a sister, Susan Hollingsworth (born 7 Dec 1854). The sister married Charles C. Faris in Oct 1882. The missing piece may solve the mystery. If there are other burials, where are the headstones?

Recent Hollingsworth Cemetery Discoveries

On Friday, 14 Apr 2006, Dan Carder of Elliott's Scouts (CSA Reenactors) and I visited Hollingsworth Cemetery. We "found" some missing pieces of the ornate wrought iron fence including the gate. Actually, I knew where the gate was, but it was underneath an inch or so of soil. Like patient archaeologists, we carefully swept leaves and dirt away in an attempt to stand the gate up. We made good progress, but it is still on the ground.

There is still quite a bit of fence missing. Like the gate, I'm sure the pieces are buried somewhere nearby. Two of the corner posts are missing, too. As big as they are (about 4" x 4" x 4'0") it should seem easy to locate them. They may be gone altogether. It will take a lot of work and skillful hands to replicate them.

Dan and I also located the bases to both of the headstones. Neither of the headstones are situated upon them at this time, although Gideon's headstone was only inches away from one. It was buried in the dirt. We found it by sticking a screwdriver into the earth. Jeptha's marker was moved about 15' away from the other base. It is partially exposed and has a metal peg protruding upward from it. In front of both markers are depressions about a foot deep. It's obvious now that the two graves are located under these depressions. The earth has settled as the bodies and whatever they were buried in decomposed over the past 144+ years.

The next day marked the 144th anniversary of the day Jeptha Hollingsworth died on 15 Apr 1862.

A moment of silence, please.

Thank you.

I made another trip to the cemetery on Monday, 17 Apr. This time there were three other helpers with me including Liz Murphy of the James Farm, Carol Dildine of the Daughters of American Colonists, Osage Chapter, and Charles McCorkendale of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Westport Camp #64 (as I am) as well as the Civil War Roundtable of Western Missouri. Together we discussed a plan of attack on the cleanup.

One of the first steps we decided upon was to work our way inwards by removing brush and then trees. Brush will either need to be burned (if we can get permission), mulched (if we can get a wood chipper), or hauled away (if we can get trucks and dumping locations). Liz lives nearby and said we may be able to haul it to her place. Once the trees and brush are removed we can focus on the fence (Dan knows a blacksmith that may be able to help repair/reconstruct it), and the landscaping as well as stone setting.

Everyone who has visited the cemetery this Easter weekend agreed that it is more than they expected, but it is a gem of a cemetery despite the condition it is currently in. It will get tougher to reach it as time goes by until the hay is cut and bailed. It would be nice to complete this project before school starts up again in August. As a matter of fact a good target date for a commemoration would be 15 Aug 2006, marking the 145th anniversary of Gideon Hollingsworth's death.

Supporting Hollingsworth Cemetery

Hollingsworth Cemetery lies within this grove of trees.


















The fence is in desperate need of a talented blacksmith,


















the trees are in desperate need of a fireplace,


















the ground is in desperate need of landscaping,


















and the markers are in desperate need of proper placement.

If you're willing to devote some time turning this sacred area into a cemetery again as it was many years ago, please write a comment on this blog. Your time, service, and support will be greatly appreciated. At this time, I do not feel it would be appropriate to ask for donations. More information about donations will come at a later time.

For more information about the location of the cemetery, please read related blogs beginning on 05 Jan 06. Thank you for reading!